Focusing device for automobile lamps



April 1929. T. J. cORcoRAN ET AL 1,707,254

FOCUSING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILE LAMPS Filed Oct. 9, 1925 Patented Apr. 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. CORCORAN AND WILLIAM M. MATTEOLI, OIE CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE THOS. J.

OHIO.

CORCORAN LAMP COL, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF FOCUSING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILE LAMPS.

Application filed October 9, 1925. Serial No. 61,555.

In the proper focusing of automobile lamps. there are two essential adjustments required. in order to placethe lamp bulb filament in the focal center of the reflector. ,One of these adjustments operates to move the lamp bulb forwardly and backwardly along a path axially of the reflector, while the other moves the bulb upwardly and downwardly to secure proper positioning thereof in a vertical di' rection. These two directions of movement are all that is required to obtain proper focal adjustment of the bulb.

It is an object of our invention to produce a focusing device of extreme simplicity of operation and construction to obtain these focusing movements, in which a minimum number of operating parts are employed, in which the operation of obtaining the required adjustments is no more complicated than the operation of obtaining the usual tor-ward and backward bulb adjustment, and in which the setting of one adjustment may be obtained independently of the other without disturbing the adjustment of the cooperating adjustment means.

These and other objects are attained in the focusing device described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmental sectional elevation of portions of an automobile lamp equipped with a focusing. device embodying our invention. r

Fig. 2 is a fragmental rear elevation of the body of a lamp such as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental sectional view of the lamp shown in Fig. 1 and 33 thereof.

Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are perspective views of details of our invention, Figs. 6 and 7 cmbodying somewhat modified ideasof construction.

The style of lamp We have chosen to illustrate in disclosing an embodiment of our invention is provided with two main elements comprising a body 9 and a reflector 10. In the reflector we provide a vertically elongated aperture 11 in which a lamp bulb socket 12 is adapted to be moved vertically. This socket may be provided with the usualextension 13 adapted to receive an adjustment screw 14 which has its slotted head 15 accessible from the outside of the lamp body. The usual spring 16 is provided to hold the socket taken on the line forwardly with the head of the screw 11 against the back of the body. 'lhrough this means the socket may be moved forwardly or backwardly to adjust the position of the bulb filament relatively to thefocal center of the reflector, as is usual in bulb adjustment devices.

However, in addition tothis forward and backward bulb adjustment device we have provided a novel mechanism for moving the socket upwardly and downwardly in the a per ture 11, which we will now describe. In the back of the lamp body 9 we form a slot 17 vertically so that the screw 14. may be moved vertically. On the inside of the'body and against the inner wall thereof we mount a pitman 18 which is pivoted on the screw 14, but which at its lower end is free to be nloved in a circular motion so to impart to the screw a vertical reciprocating movement in the slot 17. In order to accomplish this movement we provide a cam movement device at the lower end of the pitman. This device consists of a flange 19 turned outwardly about an annular opening 20 in the lower end of the pitman, over which and in cooperation with which a cam cup 21 which has a flange 22, operates. In the cup 21 and in the body 9, in an off center position with relation tothe cup 21, a'reformed openings for the reception of a pin 23 which is provided to rotate the cup. The opening 24 in the body is circular to receive the circular portion 25 of the pin 23, while the opening 26 in the cup is square to receive the square portion 27 ofthe pin. The remainder 28 of the pin receives a spring 29, a washer 30 and a cotter pin 31 through an aperture 32 in the end of the pin so that the cup or cam may be held in position over the flange of the pitman 18. The head of the pin is slotted so that, just as in the case of the screw 14-, it may be rotated to adjusted positions by a screw driver applied from the back of the lamp. An escutcheon plate 31 is preferably applied to the back of the lamp body, a hole 35 being provided for the reception of the pin and a slot 36 being provided to cooperate with slot 17 in the body so that the screw may move therein (hiring vertical adjustment. This plate is jn'eforably plated or polished so that the pin and screw may be moved without marring the enamel or other finish of the body surface.

A feature to which we call attentionin (ill Figs. 6 and? is a ratchet or looking provision consistin'g of arais'ed detent or ridge 371\'vhich cooperates with teeth 38 formed on the edge of the cam flange 22 in locking the cam in adg'iusted positions of rotation. Thus the position oft'he pitnI-an is rendered secure so that the screw .14 will remain in any position it may occupy inthe slot-:36. lt'the: tension :of: spring 29 be made suflicient it will be found however that the cam will not move easily from its adjusted positions becausethere is sufli'cient friction between the parts to prevent displacement. f

Another fea tnrewhich may be embodied,

v although "it "has Knot ibee'n specifically illustrated, 'is some su'itable(mechanism adapted to secure more minute ad] ustment ofthe cam [as for example, by agear and-pin on Inter- ?posed betweenfthepin and cam. However,

the minuteness'ofadjustment of the cam may be readily provided "torby making the off center 'positionfifthe '1123 in'th'e cam in ac- "cordance with "the i-iii'n, tenessof adjustment k desired; although such I an expedient. L also results in varyi'ng theia'mou'nt o'f throw of the cam and consequentlythe amount of movement, which the {lamp bulb socket may 51X? ;given.fl1 I The operation of the "licensing device we have just described is'so simple and obvious from theforegoing "description of itsconstruction that specific description thereof is V deemed nnne'cessary. The "dotted line 'pos'i- "tlons shown ln'FigS'jQ and 3 are selfexp'lanaing of a' lamp socket, means connected with the socket andaccessible fono'perafltion out- :side the lamp bod ,adaptetlto create a'sub- Istaritially'axi-alja justment nmzement off the socket, and a second means accessible for operationloutside the lamp body, adapted to create an adjustment movement of the socket in a direction substantially at a, right angle to the-axis of the lamp, said second mentioned meansconsisting of a pitmaupivoted trom and adapted to have wringing motir'm-with relation to-sa id'first mcutioncd means, an ccceutric connected with said pitman and, ha .ing ahfixcd pivotal center on said body, and means pivoting the eccentric on the body, adapted to rotate the eccentric, whereby swinging movement of the pitnian will move said first'mentio'ned means in a direction substantially at a right angle to the axis of the lamp.

2. In combination with the slotted body and re'fiector'of an autonlobilelamp, :rtocusing device consisting of a lamp socketcxtcnding into the reflector of the lamp,,a focusing screw in the lamp body adapted when rotated to move the socket axially 'of'the lamp, a pitman having pivotal movement at one end upon the focusing screw, said screw being: mounted for movementin the bo'dyatm right angle to the axisof the screw. and an eccentric connected'with theother end of: the pitman, adapted when rotatedrto swing the pitman and to move its pivdten'd in the path of movement of and to carry with 'itftherfocusing screw at a right angleito thc'axisthereo'l.

SJIn combination with the slottedbo dy and reflectorof an automobilelaimp, a tfocus ing jdevice consisting"otialamp socket extending-intothe reflector of'tl1elamp,- a focusing ,screw in the slot of the body adapted when rotated .to move the socket 'axially of: the lamp, a pitman having pivotal connection at one end upon the focusingserew, said :scrcw being mounted for movement'in the slot (it the'body at right angles to'the axis'ot the screw, and an eccentric connected withthe other end "oft-he pitman, adapted when rotated to swing the .pitman and thereby to move the screw at itspivo't'endrinthc slot of the bodv, said screw and eccentric being: accessible for operationoutside the body.

In testimony whereof we havehercunto a l' fixed our signatures.

THOMAS Ji CORCORAN. WILLIAM M. 'MA'TTEOLT. 

